On Nov. 24 at Final Touch Art Studio, Helping Families Handle Cancer will be hosting its first Helping Families Art Exhibit to support families who are struggling to make ends meet at the Alberta Children's Hospital. The event is a night to discover Cochrane and Calgary area artists and cones with a chance to own a unique masterpiece – created from oil, ink and acrylic paintings, to beautiful photography – while making a difference in the lives of families in the community. There will also be a silent auction featuring local businesses, and the chance to own a live painting done by Final Touch owner Sharon Kulhavy as her painting will unfold from start to finish during the event. While this is the first exhibit taking place in Cochrane, it's not the first time Helping Families Handle Cancer has run this event. Since 2010, it has hosted seven art exhibits in Calgary and two in Lethbridge and has raised just over $196,000 between the nine events and the group is looking to surpass the $200,000 mark this weekend. "We're so excited to bring our art exhibit to Cochrane," said executive director and Founder of Helping Families Handle Cancer Carie Stock. "We know that the Cochrane community will welcome a local event like this, that brings people together in the spirit of discovering art and supporting this great cause, so we can help more Cochrane families that have to take their child to Calgary for cancer treatments." Kulhavy felt it was very important for her studio to be part of such a great cause and hopes the community will come out in flocks. "This initiative is something very near to my heart because Carie is a close friend of mine. We painted together for about 15 years now so I was there when she started the foundation and grew it from next to nothing. She's a cancer survivor and she had a single mom that had to work three jobs to pay bills, so Carie's foundation helps the families that are going to the hospital and can't pay their bills," Kulhavy said. "We know with people in Cochrane, the last year that I did this for her it was primarily for a family in Cochrane. Carie works with the Children's Hospital and they call her if there's a family in need ... for whatever costs it may be. The child is taken care of when they're in the hospital, but when they leave it's all on the family and that can be a huge burden. Carie comes in and releases that burden by paying the bills with this foundation. Whenever Carie needs something, this is my No. 1 priority to make sure I can help." "We would like to raise as much as possible and I know the Cochrane community is capable of coming together and raising the funds needed for this fantastic initiative." The event will start at 7 p.m. and will be an open house style event, meaning attendees can come and go as they please.
